19-year-old arrested for shots fired at apartment
The Henderson Police Department arrested 19-year-old Joseph Bonnell regarding a Sept. 7 incident when several shots were fired into an apartment on the 100 block of Letcher Street.
Police arrived at the area and found that two residential units had been struck by bullets from the roadway and eight people were in the two apartments when the shots were fired, said a release from HPD.
No injuries were reported.
Bonnell was arrested on Sept. 23 and charged with eight counts of wanton endangerment—first-degree discharge of a firearm; receiving stolen property; theft by unlawful taking—automobile; and receiving stolen property—firearm.
According to witnesses, a gold truck sped from the scene after the shooting, said the release. Later, officers located the truck, which had been wrecked, and determined it had been stolen.
Officers found Bonnell in a yard near the crash and found a discarded handgun close to the crash site, said the release.
Though Bonnell matched a witness description of one of two men running from the truck, he could not be positively identified as a suspect at the time and was released pending further investigation, police said.
Several shell casings were recovered at the scene and collected for ballistic testing, said the release. Later, the recovered handgun was test fired for ballistic comparison to the casings found at the scene and the results showed that the casings came from the same gun, said the release.
During the follow-up investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for Bonnell’s cell phone and found a video that linked him to the stolen handgun, police said. Another cell phone video filmed by Bonell connected him to a vehicle that was reported stolen in Henderson on September 2, police said.
Henderson police say the investigation remains active. Anyone with information related to any of the case is asked to contact the Henderson Police Department at 270-831-1295.
Two arrested during attempted burglary
Henderson Police Department patrol officers found two people in the attic of a Turner Avenue home during a burglary attempt Wednesday morning, according to a release from the department.
Officers were dispatched to the home on the 300 block of Turner Avenue after a 911 call was placed at 7:17 a.m. There, they spoke with the resident, who said he was alerted to the burglary by security cameras in the home, said the release.
When officers didn’t find the suspects in the main area of the home, they requested a ladder from the Henderson Fire Department to access the attic, said the release.
When they got into the attic, officers found Timothy Oliver, 52, and Amanda Yates, 46, said police. Both were taken into custody without incident.
Police say burglary tools were found in a backpack near the suspects.
The victim told officers that neither suspect had permission to be in the home.
During the investigation, detectives established probable cause that the suspects intended to steal items and later sell them, said the release.
Both Oliver and Yates were arrested and charged with second-degree burglary and booked into the Henderson County Detention Center.
Fiscal Court needs more information about taser request from animal control
Henderson County Fiscal Court magistrates were concerned about liability issues if they approved a request for the purchase of Taser 10 tasers for animal control officers.
Animal Control Officer John Moore requested $17,123 to pay for Taser 10s and training to use them. Moore said that animal control officers would use them to not only protect themselves from angry animals but also people.
“If I’m showing up (at a residence), it’s probably not the best situation,” he said.
Moore said animal control officers currently carry no weapons for protection.
Henderson County Sheriff Chip Stauffer said the Taser 10 is currently considered a deadly weapon in Kentucky.
“It’s as if you’re carrying a firearm,” Stauffer said.
Moore said he’s not opposed to obtaining tasers that are not considered deadly weapons.
“I’m not opposed to stepping it down,” Moore said. “I just want protection.”
Judge-Executive Brad Schneider asked that animal control return with more information about the Taser 10 so that the county can research liability issues.
